Compare the2022 Buick EncoreVS 2022 GMC Terrain

For enhanced safety, the front and rear (child comfort guides) seat shoulder belts of the Buick Encore are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The GMC Terrain doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

The Buick Encore has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Terrain doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the Encore and the Terrain have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Buick Encore is safer than the GMC Terrain:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Buick Encore is safer than the GMC Terrain:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are over 17 percent more Buick dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Encore’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Encore’s reliability 34 points higher than the Terrain.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Encore third among small suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Terrain isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick 7th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 8th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick fifth in reliability, above the industry average. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick fourth in reliability. GMC is ranked 16th.

On the EPA test cycle the Encore FWD gets better fuel mileage than the Terrain FWD (24 city/32 hwy vs. 25 city/30 hwy).

The Encore’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Terrain SLE/AT4’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Encore has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Terrain SLE/AT4.

For better maneuverability, the Encore’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Terrain w/17” wheels’ (36.7 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Encore’s turning circle is 4.9 feet tighter than the Terrain w/19” wheels’ (36.7 feet vs. 41.6 feet).

The Buick Encore may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 300 pounds less than the GMC Terrain.

The Encore is 1 foot, 1.9 inches shorter than the Terrain, making the Encore easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Encore’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Terrain’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Insurance will cost less for the Encore owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Encore with a number “5” insurance rate while the Terrain is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Encore is less expensive to operate than the Terrain because it costs $564 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Encore than the Terrain, including $114 less for a water pump, $433 less for a muffler, $191 less for a starter, $366 less for fuel injection, $312 less for a fuel pump, $91 less for a timing belt/chain and $262 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Buick Encore will be $178 to $5369 less than for the GMC Terrain.

The Buick Encore has won recognition from these important consumer publications: